New Indie Horror Fest, The Stanley Film Festival, To Honor Eli Roth and Close With ‘Aftershock’

New Indie Horror Fest, The Stanley Film Festival, To Honor Eli Roth and Close With 'Aftershock'

The Stanley Film Festival, a new inaugural festival celebrating the best in independent horror, will present its 2013 Visionary Award to to Eli Roth and close with his latest film “Aftershock.” Presented by NBC Universal’s horror network Chiller, the festival will take place in Estes Park, Colorado at the famous Stanley Hotel, the haunted landmark that inspired “The Shining”‘s Overlook Hotel.

“Aftershock,” co-written, produced by, and starring modern horror master Roth, follows a group of tourists in Chile whose vacation turns to hell after an earthquake hits.

On the festival’s recognition of Roth’s career, Festival Director Jenny Bloom commented, “Since his debut on the film festival scene with “Cabin Fever” in 2002, Eli Roth has become a leading force in the horror genre. His body of work will set the Stanley Film Festival Visionary Award precedent high for years to come.”

The festival’s feature program, which was curated by Programming Director Landon Zakheim and Programmer Michael Lerman, will include two U.S. premieres and films from 13 different countries. U.S. premieres will include Colin and Cameron Cairnes’ “100 Bloody Acres,” about a trip to a music festival that turns into a crazy, comedic story of survival, and “Wither,” a Swedish take on “Evil Dead.”

Among the festival’s line-up are “V/H/S/2,” the much-anticipated sequel to the found-footage shorts series, Rodney Ascher’s “The Shining” documentary “Room 237,” and Franck Khalfoun’s remake”Maniac,” starring Elijah Wood, which follows the owner of a mannequin shop.

The festival will from from May 2 – 5 and also feature panels, student competitions and special events. The full feature line-up is below.

FEATURE PRESENTATIONS:

“100 Bloody Acres” – Australia – (Directors/Screenwriters: Colin and Cameron Cairnes, Cast: Damon Herriman, Angus Sampson, Anna McGahan) – A trio of fun-loving touristson their way to a music festival fall into the hands of two crazed brothers with sinisterplans in this madcap comedy about trying to survive. (Narrative) US Premiere

“All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” – USA – (Director: Jonathan Levine, Screenwriter: JacobForman, Cast: Amber Heard, Michael Welch, Whitney Able, Anson Mount) – Resurrectedafter a several year hiatus, this legendary splatter-fest is finally making its way back tothe big screen. When the most sought after girl in school is invited to a weekend outingwith friends on a secluded farm, a mysterious suitor begins to pick off the other boysone by one. (Narrative) Colorado Premiere

“Frankenstein’s Army” – Netherlands/USA – (Director: Richard Raaphorst, Screenwriters:Chris W. Mitchell, Miguel Tejada-Flores, Cast: Karel Roden, Joshua Sasse, RobertGwilym, Alexander Mercury) – Near the end of World War Two, a platoon of Russiansoldiers are given a secret mission that leads them into the lair of a Nazi mad scientistand his frightening creations in this cinematically inventive take on the monster movie. (Narrative) Colorado Premiere

“Henge” – Japan – (Director/Screenwriter: Hajime Ohata, Cast: Kazunari Aizawa, AkiMorita, Teruhiko Nobukuni) – Following treatment for violent spells, a young manreturns home to his loving wife. But as his seizures intensify, it becomes clear somethinginside him is trying to get out. Part domestic drama, part sci-fi thriller, this ambitiousmicro-budget tragedy heralds the arrival of a bright new talent. (Narrative) ColoradoPremiere

“Room 237” – USA – (Director: Rodney Ascher, Featured: Bill Blakemore, Geoffrey Cocks,Juli Kearns, John Fell Ryan, Jay Weidner) – ‪In 1980 Stanley Kubrick released his classichorror film, “The Shining.” Over 30 years later, viewers are still struggling to understandits hidden meanings. A wild exploration into the heart of obsession, this cinematic essayis one that you will want to see at The Stanley Hotel. (Documentary)

“Tower Block” – United Kingdom – (Directors: James Nunn, Ronnie Thompson,Screenwriter: James Moran, Cast: Sheridan Smith, Jack O’Connell, Ralph Brown, RussellTovey) – When bullets start flying into an isolated tenement building, no one is safefrom the faceless shooter who has trapped the residents there for reasons unknown.The traditional slasher film is taken to its extreme in this taut psychological thriller.(Narrative) Colorado Premiere